Cac

The Washington County Community Action Council (CAC) is offering energy-bill help to residents who meet income guidelines. Households eligible for the Maryland Energy Assistance Program may receive one-time help with heating costs for any fuel source, according to a CAC press release. Households eligible for the Electric Universal Service Program may receive a monthly credit for electric costs, according to the CAC. For past-due bills, there also is an Electric Universal Bill Retirement Program for electricity accounts, and an Office of Home Energy Programs Gas Retirement Program for natural gas accounts.

alician@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - The Washington County Community Action Council Inc. took time out to honor its volunteers with a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Friday. More than 40 volunteers met with Community Action Council staff at First Christian Church on Potomac Avenue for a meal provided by Always Catering and the lively entertainment of the barbershop quartet Just for Fun. Debbie Harris, CAC community support coordinator, said the agency has more than 130 volunteers who work in capacities from assisting with office jobs to serving on the board of directors.

CAC seeks funding to move YMCA residents By DAN KULIN dank@herald-mail.com Hagerstown and Washington County elected officials were asked for about $100,000 Tuesday to help subsidize a plan to move the resident program at Hagerstown's YMCA to a downtown hotel. The single rooms for men at the Hagerstown YMCA at 149 N. Potomac St. will not be available after the YMCA moves into a new building along Eastern Boulevard later this year. Representatives from the Washington County Community Action Council presented a plan to city and county elected officials on Tuesday that would move the housing program into the Dagmar Hotel on the corner of Summit Avenue and Antietam Street.

The Washington County Community Action Council has seen a substantial increase in people asking for help with home foreclosures. CAC Executive Director David G. Jordan said the organization has hired an extra counselor to handle the increase. "We used to serve maybe 10 or 20 people a year. Now it's more like 10 a month. And I'm sure the number will go up," Jordan said. For several years, CAC has offered mortgage foreclosure counseling. While the organization does not have money to offer people who are behind on their house payments, they have three counselors who sometimes can convince lenders to work out different payment plans.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Overcrowded schools and a transportation policy that angered some parents are just a few topics that a newly energized school committee hopes to address. The Washington County Public Schools Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) met last month to recruit new members and tackle issues that it would like to address during the 2008-09 school year, said John Davidson, Director of Student Services and liaison to the CAC. The group now has five members, but Davidson said up to 15 may join.

By MARLO BARNHART Staff Writer The Washington County Community Action Council had a rough year in 1996. Fortunately, for people like Patrick and Tracy Fazenbaker, the 30-year-old agency made it through. "We were served by CAC, to get us over a temporary hurdle," Tracy Fazenbaker said as she addressed participants in the agency's annual open house Tuesday. She said that when her husband's disability allowance was yanked because he needed emergency surgery, their family of six was unable to make ends meet on the salary from her part-time job. "CAC helped us with our electric bills and fuel oil," Tracy Fazenbaker said.

katec@herald-mail.com There's a framed poster on the wall in Community Action Council Executive Director David G. Jordan's office: "Stand up for what is right, even if you're standing alone. " Jordan, in the position since April 1, inherited that poster. But it remains prominent. Community Action Council was founded in 1965, part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War of Poverty. " "The war is still raging," Jordan says. The agency's goal has been to work itself out of a job, Jordan says.

City may not fund housing program By DAN KULIN dank@herald-mail.com A housing program aimed at keeping residents of the Hagerstown YMCA off the streets after the YMCA moves will probably not receive any funding from the City of Hagerstown, a majority of council members predicted Thursday. continued Despite their reluctance to fund the program, the Mayor and council members agreed the residential program proposed by the Washington County Community Action Council is probably needed.

The directors of several area food banks say they are having trouble keeping their shelves stocked with food this summer. Beth Stouffer, director of St. Mark’s Food Bank at 601 Washington Ave. in Hagerstown, said St. Mark’s needs just about everything. “It’s in very bad condition” she said. “All of the freezers are just empty. We are out of meat.” Stouffer said St. Mark’s situation became dire last month, when the food bank ran low on supplies after feeding 285 needy families.

There will be something for everyone in Byron Memorial Park on Wednesday, as Williamsport holds its annual Independence Day celebration. The Williamsport pool will be open special hours, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the holiday. The Williamsport Volunteer Fire and EMS will have food ready for purchase at 2 p.m., including pit-beef sandwiches. The Rhythm Kings will entertain beginning at 3:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the Williamsport Community Band will perform a patriotic concert, leading up to a fireworks display at dusk.

Are you old enough to remember a little store at the intersection of West Side Avenue and Salem Avenue? Cora's had some of the best steamers in Hagerstown for only 15 cents. Add a nickel bag of chips with a fountain soda and you had a meal for just 25 cents. Oh, the good old days. Happy birthday I would like to wish a very happy birthday to Joan Breeden of West Church Street. Hope you have a wonderful day. West Hagerstown Lions Club news Buck Fisher, past district governor of the West Hagerstown Lions Club, was in Hagerstown June 18 to install the officers for 2012-13. The new officers are president, Jim Roby; first vice president, Mary Chaney; second vice president Lewis Kline; and secretary-treasurer, Donna Jackman. Yard sale to benefit CAC The annual Improved Order of Red Men Tribe 84 yard and craft sale will be Saturday, July 7, from 6 a.m. to noon at 16129 Lappans Road in Williamsport.

The directors of several area food banks say they are having trouble keeping their shelves stocked with food this summer. Beth Stouffer, director of St. Mark’s Food Bank at 601 Washington Ave. in Hagerstown, said St. Mark’s needs just about everything. “It’s in very bad condition” she said. “All of the freezers are just empty. We are out of meat.” Stouffer said St. Mark’s situation became dire last month, when the food bank ran low on supplies after feeding 285 needy families.

Kim Buchanan from the Washington County Community Action Council was the guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Tri-State Civitan Club. She described some of more than 40 program services provided by CAC in the four-state region. She said CAC was created during President Johnson’s “War on Poverty” program 45 years ago. The club’s focus is helping individuals with disabilities. Tri-State Civitan Club past president Sue Thompson presented a plaque to Jo Ann Hanahan for her 15 years as a member.

The annual Williamsport Red Men Tribe 84 yard sale will be at 16129 Lappans Road Saturday, June 20, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Washington County Community Action Council Inc. Tables will be available for $15 per table under the pavilion. You can bring your own tables and set up around the pavilion for a cost of $10 per table. Setup will start at 5 a.m. There will be a concession stand and bake sale table. Register by calling Kimberly Buchanan at 301-797-4161, ext. 137.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Overcrowded schools and a transportation policy that angered some parents are just a few topics that a newly energized school committee hopes to address. The Washington County Public Schools Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) met last month to recruit new members and tackle issues that it would like to address during the 2008-09 school year, said John Davidson, Director of Student Services and liaison to the CAC. The group now has five members, but Davidson said up to 15 may join.

Happy Memorial Day! May you have a fantastic time with friends and family as you celebrate what this day means. Please be careful as you are out and about. Have fun! Neighborhoods 1st The next meeting of Neighborhoods 1st Locust Point will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Bester Elementary School library. Contact Lois Delisi at 703-861-8189 or Lynda Evans at 301-992-6943, or justlynda59@yahoo.com . Sale to benefit CAC Washington County Community Action Council Inc. (CAC)

Editor's note: On Fridays, Herald-Mail reporters and editors will answer some of the questions that are called in by readers to Mail Call. Consider this us returning your call. Can CAC help us with light bills? Question: "I would like to find out about the money Community Action Council got from the show put on at The Maryland Theatre for elderly citizens, to help with the light bills and the heat. We are elderly people getting light bills of more than $100 a month.